Chapter 10 – My Mom Gives Me 'The Talk'

Four months later, I was back at the airport, waiting for Annabeth. This time, though, I was in the arrivals area and I had driven myself in my own car. After Annabeth had left at the end of the summer, I spent the last few days of summer at Camp Half-Blood. I was given the option to stay at camp for my senior year of school, but it wouldn't have been the same without Annabeth. I made the choice to go to a private school that I had been accepted into in upstate New York. It wasn't a fancy school. It was more of an alternative school for kids with learning disabilities who didn't do well in other school settings. I had some pretty cool teachers, who we all called by their first name. I lived on the small campus with a roommate named Carl who was a nice enough guy. We didn't have much in common, but we made it work. He has Asperger's Syndrome and had difficulty in public schools. He had been at the school since seventh grade so he was able to basically show me the ropes. The best thing about the school was that for the time I was there, no monsters had attacked me and I hadn't once feared for my life.

The only problem with the school was that I missed Annabeth every day. We texted constantly and sent Iris messages whenever we were both alone, which wasn't very often. Even though Annabeth lived in a dorm room alone, we were both pretty busy with school and things. Annabeth told me all about her internship. She was loving it. Spending every day working with real architects was Annabeth's dream come true. I think a small part of me would have been ecstatic if she hated it and wanted to come home, but I was happy for her.

For Christmas, I invited Annabeth to stay at my mom's with me. My mom and her husband Paul were happy to have her and I was excited just to see her. Annabeth made a plan to fly to New York the morning of Christmas Eve. She would have to go back on the 26th, the day after Christmas, but as long as I got to spend time with her, I didn't care.

I stood in the arrivals waiting area of the airport, holding a bouquet of colorful flowers. I looked up at the arrivals board and saw that her plane had finally landed. Any minute, she'd come walking through a set of double doors and into my arms.

Moments later, people started streaming through the doors. Some went straight towards the baggage claim. Others embraced loved ones who were waiting for them. I continued to wait. I didn't see Annabeth. I started to panic. Maybe she had missed her flight. Maybe she couldn't come. I took my phone out of my pocket to see if she had sent me a message. There was nothing. I looked up. Annabeth was finally coming through the door with a big smile on her face. I practically ran towards her and threw my arms around her. She dropped her bag onto the ground and embraced me too.

"Hi," I said. "Welcome home."

"Thanks," she replied.

I kissed her. She tasted like I remembered. Actually, it was better than I remembered. I wanted to keep kissing her, but decided we should save that for when we weren't in such a public area.

"Sorry I took so long," Annabeth said. "I was the last one off the plane and it took forever to get everyone off. There was this screaming toddler that they couldn't get to move and…"

"I've missed you," I interrupted.

"I missed you, too."

"These are for you."

I handed her the flowers I was holding. She beamed.

"They're beautiful. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Come on," I said, taking her hand. "My mom can't wait to see you." I picked her bag up off the floor and slung it over my shoulder. We started walking out of the airport. We made our way to where I had parked my car in a parking garage.

"So…this is it, huh?" Annabeth asked, looking at my car. I had contacted her with an Iris message when I first bought it. She was proud of me. I had saved up money from working in a stockroom at a store near my school. The job wasn't glamorous, but it kept me busy when I wasn't in school and earned me enough money to buy my car. The car I purchased certainly wasn't a junker, but it wasn't new either. I had bought the car used. It was about ten years old, but it was reliable and got me where I needed to go, mostly to and from work. I liked the new-found freedom that car gave me. Sure, I was good as using public transportation and you didn't really need a car in New York City, but having a car made me feel free.

"Yup," I said proudly.

"I like it," Annabeth complimented.

I opened her passenger side door. "My lady," I said.

She laughed and got in. I closed the door behind her and got in on the driver's side. Before I started the car, I leaned over and kissed her properly. She responded with equal passion, our hands tangled in each other's hair.

"Wow, I missed that," Annabeth breathed when we parted.

"Me too."

As I started the car, Annabeth put her hand on my knee. Feeling her touch made me miss her even more.

Later that night, my mom, Paul, Annabeth, and I were sitting in my mom's parlor in front of a crackling fire in the fireplace. The Christmas tree was lit up in the corner with sparkling colorful lights. We had just finished decorating it with the ornaments from my childhood. My mom had even bought Annabeth a few ornaments. She had bought a set of miniature versions of the biggest skyscrapers in New York. Annabeth loved them. I had a feeling that she never really had many of her own ornaments at home, nor did she have very many traditions with her own family. It was nice that my mom was including her in ours. We had homemade cookies and milk for dinner and were listening to some classical Christmas songs on Paul's record player. Annabeth and I were sitting against the couch, our shoulders touching, our legs outstretched to the fireplace. My mom and Paul were cuddling together on the loveseat. A few years ago I would have thought that was gross, but I was happy to see my mom happy. And I'm pretty sure she was happy to see me happy too.

Annabeth yawned. She leaned her head against my shoulder and closed her eyes.

"You must be exhausted," my mom said to Annabeth. "You've spent most of the day traveling and then we forced into decorating."

"No, I loved decorating with you," Annabeth replied. "Thank you for including me."

"It's been a pleasure having you," Paul said. "Percy is a very lucky young man. As am I."

"Except you're not a young man," my mom teased.

Annabeth looked over at me. I had this odd sense that one day I'd like that to be us. I could picture Annabeth and I in ten or twenty years, sitting together in our own place, still as in love as we were as teenagers. I wondered if Annabeth thought the same thing.

"We should let you get some sleep," Paul said to Annabeth.

"You can take Percy's room," my mom said. "And Percy will sleep on the couch."

"Oh, I'll be fine on the couch," Annabeth protested.

"Nonsense. I changed his sheets while he was getting you at the airport and it's all ready for you. Percy, I've left blankets and extra pillows for you next to the couch."

"I don't want to displace you," Annabeth said to me.

"Don't worry about it," I told her. I like the couch. It's comfy."

"I…"

"Not another word," my mother said. "You'll be sleeping in Percy's room and Percy will be sleeping on the couch."

"Alright," Annabeth finally agreed. "Thank you."

"Come on," my mom said. "I'll show you where you can get towels and things."

My mom stood up, as did Annabeth. They disappeared together, leaving me alone with Paul. Even though I liked Paul, I hadn't spent much time alone with him.

"So…" Paul said. "Your mom asked me to…ah…talk to you."

"About what?" I asked.

"Well, about…about Annabeth and about…growing up."

I wrinkled my nose. I was really hoping Paul wasn't about to have the sex talk with me. It would be weird enough coming from my father. No matter my mother's husband who I didn't even know that well.

"Look, I don't…" I began.

"I'm not giving you details," Paul interrupted. I could tell he was as nervous and feeling awkward about this talk as I was. "And I'm not going to ask what you and Annabeth have or haven't done. Just…be smart. And be respectful."

"I would never disrespect Annabeth," I stated and I meant it.

"I know. You're a good kid, Percy."

My mom reappeared in the doorway. She came and sat down next to Paul.

"Did you talk to him?" She asked.

"I was starting to."

"Percy, I know you and Annabeth have spent a lot of unsupervised time together on your quests," my mom said.

"Mom, please don't…" I began. This was getting worse than when Paul started talking to me. I did not want to have this conversation with my mom.

"I was a teenager once too, Percy. I know how teenagers think. But you are in our house and I am going to be the very uncool mom who is asking you not to have sex while Annabeth is visiting. I'm not going to be the kind of mom who is in denial about having a teenage boy. I know what teenage boys think about. And I know you and Annabeth have been away from each other for a long time, but I'm just asking you to be respectful of my rules. I don't want you in your room together with the door closed. You're still a teenager, Percy. And…"

"Mom!" I shouted, needing her to stop talking. I was getting more embarrassed by the second.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop."

I'm sure my cheeks were red. My mom and I had never officially had 'the talk' and I certainly hadn't had it with my dad, but I didn't need it now. Annabeth and I hadn't even really talked about sex yet. That was a conversation I wanted to have with her, not my mom or step-father.

"I think Percy got the message," Paul said. "Let's go to bed, too. After all, it's Christmas Eve. We've got to go to bed early so Santa Claus comes."

"Goodnight Percy," my mom said, coming over to kiss me on top of my head.

"Goodnight, mom."

"Can you make sure you put the fire out before you go to bed?" Paul asked.

"Don't worry," I assured him. "I'm really good at dousing things with water."

"Sweet dreams, son."

My mom and Paul walked off down the hallway towards their bedroom. I had to sort of block it out that my mom shared a room with Paul. I mean, I knew they were married, but who wants to think about their mom being with someone? Ewww. I looked over at the fire. Paul had placed a water bucket on the hearth next to the fire. I guess you could never be too careful. As much as I was enjoying the fire, I knew I should put it out in case I accidentally fell asleep. Without even touching the bucket, I sent the water from inside onto the flames. They were immediately doused and the logs started sizzling. I looked to the side of the couch where my mom had put the blankets and pillows. On top of the pile was Annabeth's Yankees cap. I had no clue how Annabeth managed to put it there, but I had an idea what I wanted to use it for.

I quickly went into the bathroom and changed into a T-Shirt and sweat pants that my mom had left out for me. She had thought of everything just so I wouldn't have to go into my room where Annabeth was. I brushed my teeth and ran a hand through my black hair. As always, it was a bit of a mess, but I didn't care. I went back into the living room and put on Annabeth's hat. I immediately disappeared. I couldn't even see my own body. I tiptoed down the hall. Even though I was invisible, my feet could still make noise against the hardwood floor. I went to my room and stopped. I listened through the door, but didn't hear anything. I knocked quietly, hoping my mom and Paul wouldn't hear. After all, my mom had made it perfectly clear that Annabeth and I were not to be in my room alone together.

The door opened. I slipped inside and took the Yankees cap off my head. Annabeth wasn't surprised to see me. She was in a red and green striped shirt with a reindeer on the front. Her fuzzy pajama pants matched the shirt. Her hair was down, the locks flowing over her shoulders. In other words, she looked adorable.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi. I see you found my hat."

"I did."

"I heard what your mom said about us not being in this room together."

"That's embarrassing," I muttered. It was bad enough for me to hear what my mom said. I hadn't wanted Annabeth to hear it too.

"She's just concerned about you, Percy."

"I think she's concerned about you. She thinks I want to jump your bones every second."

"And do you?"

I didn't know how to answer. Because the answer was 'yes.' Annabeth and my physical reaction to each other had grown all summer long and I was at the point where I was ready to take it to the next step.

I answered Annabeth with a kiss.